Bush germander

Teucrium fruticans

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Description

Bush germander is a reliable foliage and flowering accent plant. It develops into a large evergreen shrub, 4-8 ft. high, spreading 8-10 ft. across. Distinctive foliage is gray-green above with silvery white hairs beneath. Colorful pale lavender flowers are heaviest in winter to early spring and intermittently throughout the year.

Bush germander comes from rocky slopes in coastal foothill habitats across the western Mediterranean region, particularly Spain and North Africa. It is a hardy plant for all parts of the Inland Empire tolerant of heat, frost, wind and periods of drought. It can be clipped to make a hedge or planted in background areas to provide an informal screen. Its gray foliage character makes it well suited to contrast with darker green colors in the landscape. Cultivars include: T. f. 'Azureum' grows 4-6 ft. tall and has deeper purple-blue flowers; and T. f. 'Compactum' is a small plant to 3 ft. tall and as wide with dark blue flowers.

Water Needs

Bush germander is well adapted to sunny locations on well drained soils in the Inland Empire and with low amounts of supplemental water during summer. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains can provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates it can grow with varying amounts of water; the higher range of moisture in spring will help stimulate a more robust flowering cycle.

Maintenance

Usually does not require pruning, but can be pruned to make a low hedge, more compact form, or small topiary (S). Light shaping can be done at any time (S). Branch thinning or harder cut backs are best done in early spring before the season's growth begins (5).